Teton Pass Ski Resort is excited to announce its reopening for the 2012-2013 ski season.  Teton Pass is located 34 miles west of Choteau along the Rocky Mountain Front.

In 2012, Teton Pass underwent new ownership when New Zealander, Nicolas Wood, purchased it.  After lodge renovations and the addition of a new lift, Teton Pass operated for the 2010-11 season with a high number of skier-visits, but was unable to open again the following year due to financial and insurance constraints.

Armed with a new management strategy, Teton Pass is gearing up to open this coming winter.  This season owner Nick Wood will remain abroad and the resort will be managed by two local individuals: Charles Hlavac and Nathan Haines.  Both Hlavac and Haines were employees at Teton Pass in 2010 when Wood first purchased the hill, and have stayed on as caretakers during the resort’s dormant period.

“Teton Pass is my hometown hill, and I really want to see it succeed,” Says Hlavac, a Choteau native. Hlavac has a long history with Teton Pass, having worker as a ski patroller and ski instructor through his high school years.  With a degree in mechanical engineering, Hlavac was originally hired as a lift supervisor and engineer.  He will be taking on a broader role as Operations Manager, overseeing the ski patrol, lift operations, grooming, and ski school.

Haines grew up in Wyoming, where he found his passion for winter sports.  He then attended Montana State University where he studied mechanical engineering.  After originally moving to Seattle to pursue an aerospace career, he jumped at an opportunity to bring him and his wife back to MT and served as the rental shop manager at Teton Pass for the 2010-2011 season.  His role at the ski mountain this year will be to serve as the Lodge/Service Manager, who will oversee the resturant/bar, rental shop, ticket sales, and marketing.

Teton Pass is anticipated to open on December 15th, pending snow levels.  Lifts will be open four days a week, Friday thru Monday, from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm, and all week during Christmas break.  Hlavac and Haines intend to hold a town hall meeting in Choteau in early November to answer any questions the community may have.  Season passes will be available for purchase at the meet as well as online (starting Friday, 19th) at www.tetonpassresort.com.

 

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